Noah StrackbeinAug 17, 2026

Strackbein predicts the Steelers will keep all four quarterbacks — Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar — on the 2026 roster, with Allar the leading candidate to start and Rudolph as the QB2 ahead of Howard.

Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original

Waiting6 calls, none settled yet

—Average accuracynothing settled yet

—A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

0 of 6Settled6 still waiting

6Waitingnot graded yet

What Noah Strackbein said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

It's time to start believing the Steelers are keeping all four QBs in 2026.

Noah Strackbein, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: Sports Illustrated
The piece: Steelers QB Answer is Getting Clearer
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

1Mason Rudolph — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”“It's time to start believing the Steelers are keeping all four QBs in 2026.”
2Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart“It's hard to convince yourself at this point that the Steelers don't have the nine-year veteran as their QB2 with a notable gap between he and Howard.”
3Aaron Rodgers — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”“there's a real feel - a strong one - that four quarterbacks is inevitable for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026”
4Drew Allar to be 1st on the depth chart“it's hard to imagine Allar not being the lead candidate to start for the Steelers next season”
5Drew Allar — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”“It's time to start believing the Steelers are keeping all four QBs in 2026.”
6Will Howard — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”“It's time to start believing the Steelers are keeping all four QBs in 2026.”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Mason Rudolph — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”¹	Roster Spot Calls	—	—	—	—
Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart²	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Aaron Rodgers — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”³	Roster Spot Calls	—	—	—	—
Drew Allar to be 1st on the depth chart⁴	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Drew Allar — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”⁵	Roster Spot Calls	—	—	—	—
Will Howard — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”⁶	Roster Spot Calls	—	—	—	—
6 calls · 6 waiting			—	—

How each call scored

6 checkable claims — 4 roster spot calls and 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.

Where this call stands in the room

Drew Allar · 2026 season

Noah Strackbein — 1the room — 8 calls from 7 punditsmedian 2

Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.

1Roster Spot Calls Mason Rudolph Pittsburgh Steelers
Mason Rudolph — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
2Depth Chart Calls Mason Rudolph Pittsburgh Steelers
Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
3Roster Spot Calls Aaron Rodgers Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
4Depth Chart Calls Drew Allar Pittsburgh Steelers
Drew Allar to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
5Roster Spot Calls Drew Allar Pittsburgh Steelers
Drew Allar — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
6Roster Spot Calls Will Howard Pittsburgh Steelers
Will Howard — “keeping all four QBs in 2026”
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

Bryan DeArdo · Trade and Signing Calls · Joey Porter Jr. · Miss 0
The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved.
Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Aaron Rodgers · Miss 0
Eisen ranked their top five most impressive Pro Bowl campaigns of the season, topped by Sam Darnold, and predicted that Sunday would be Aaron Rodgers' last game with the Jets.
Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 60
DeArdo picks the Steelers to beat the Browns at home in Week 8, citing Pittsburgh's quarterback edge and a running game that should exploit Cleveland's weak run defense.
Greg Jennings · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Jennings backed the Vikings to upset the Lions in Detroit, put chips on the Steelers over the Browns, and took the Chiefs to win in Denver.
Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 74
Simms gave straight-up winners with predicted final scores for every Week 8 game, including upset calls on the Ravens in Buffalo, the Broncos over the Chiefs, the Jets over the Raiders and the Seahawks over the Bears, and they expected Josh Downs to play for the Colts despite their trade request.
Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners across the Week 8 slate, siding with the Bills over the Ravens, the Lions, Steelers, Jaguars, Bengals, Falcons, Raiders, Broncos, Rams, Patriots, Commanders and the Bears in Seattle.

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Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut.
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Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs.
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Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.
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Randy Gurzi · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Hudson · Miss 0
Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player they expect Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. They also predict Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere.